Hot yoga has soared in popularity over the past decade and for good reason. Practised in a heated room (typically around 35–40°C or 95–105°F), it combines traditional yoga poses with the added intensity of a warm environment. The result? A deeply cleansing, physically challenging and mentally grounding experience. But where to go and experience this phenomenon?
Hot Yoga South was founded in 2008 by Carolyn Jikiemi-Roberts, better known as CJ. Funny thing is, before she ever set foot on a yoga mat, CJ was convinced yoga was… well, boring.
So what changed her mind? Two very persuasive forces—pain and parenting.
After a few classes, she noticed a huge improvement in the chronic discomfort she’d been dealing with since a whiplash injury, something she’d just about accepted as permanent. But the real clincher? Her kids kindly pointed out that yoga made her a lot less grumpy. (Nothing like brutally honest children to steer your life in a new direction.)
Inspired by the shift in both her body and mood, CJ went all in, training as a Bikram yoga teacher and qualifying in 2003. Five years later, she opened Hot Yoga South, with the mission to help others sweat, stretch and smile their way to feeling better too.
Here’s the thing, CJ is on a mission to prove that yoga isn’t just for slender, bendy 20-somethings doing handstands on beaches for Instagram. You don’t need abs of steel, a crystal collection or a green smoothie habit to show up to class. You just need a body (any kind), a sense of humour (highly recommended) and maybe a towel (you will sweat).
CJ is passionate about making yoga inclusive, accessible and welcoming no matter your age, shape, size or flexibility level. Whether you’re 25 or 75, whether you can touch your toes or barely see them past your knees, you belong in her studio. Her philosophy? “If you’ve got a body, you can do yoga. If you’ve got a few wobbly bits, even better, they make excellent built-in props.”
At Hot Yoga South, it’s not about looking a certain way, it’s about feeling better, being kinder to yourself, and finding strength (and sweat) in the most unexpected places.
